A Hancock County resident who traveled to a Zika-affected country is the first person in the state to test positive.
Joe Lawlor
Staff Writer
Joe Lawlor writes about health and human services for the Press Herald. A 24-year newspaper veteran, Lawlor has worked in Ohio, Michigan and Virginia before relocating to Maine in 2013 to join the Press Herald. He is still considered “from away” but since then, he has learned what a “dooryard” is, eaten “whoopie pies” drank Moxie and boiled some “lobstahs.” The stories he enjoys most are when he learns something and meeting inspiring people.
He lives in South Portland - aka “SoPo” - with his wife, Melanie, and two school-age children.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Susan Collins’ Senate committee on aging explores risks of opiate addiction
The special panel chaired by Collins focuses on high prescription rates for painkillers and federal survey questions that may encourage hospitals to dispense too many of them.
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Posted inNews, Politics
Medicaid expansion supporters make sixth try to broaden Maine’s program
The LePage administration opposes the idea, but proponents are making another effort by tying expansion to fighting the state’s heroin problem and proposing small premiums for some.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Gov. LePage criticized for joke about Chinese investor before a crowd in Lewiston
Pretending to sneeze while pronouncing the investor’s name is seen as offensive by some in the Chinese-American community.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
State defends letter pushing food stamp recipients to put photos on EBT cards
But the DHHS policy is under scrutiny after complaints that it appears to say photos are mandatory.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Collins cites possible tie between hospital pain control surveys, overprescription of opioids
The Maine Republican leads a group of 26 senators questioning whether hospital patient surveys on pain control should be tied to federal funding.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Sen. Angus King urges CVS to make overdose antidote available over the counter
The drug store chain already offers naloxone without a prescription in 14 states, and Maine has a dire need, he says.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Maine has big stake in Obama plan to combat heroin addiction
If Congress approves the funding, thousands could get treatment in the state, which has been hit hard by the epidemic.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Bill to boost MaineCare payments for methadone clinics receives support from doctors, police
No one speaks against a Republican senator’s proposal, an effort to help more clinics open and improve services to fight addiction.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Methadone clinic reimbursements would climb under York County lawmaker’s bill
Republican Sen. David Woodsome says methadone is a proven treatment, and the state’s present MaineCare reimbursements are too low to support clinics.